NOAA's $5.7M contract for water model advancement awarded to LYNKER CORPORATION

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $5,689,787 ($5.7M)

Contractor: Lynker Corporation

Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce

Start Date: 2022-10-01

End Date: 2024-09-30

Contract Duration: 730 days

Daily Burn Rate: $7.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: ADVANCEMENT OF THE NATIONAL WATER MODEL (NWM) NEXT GENERATION MODELING FRAMEWORK AND PROTOTYPE (NEXTGEN)

Place of Performance

Location: LEESBURG, LOUDOUN County, VIRGINIA, 20176

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Commerce obligated $5.7 million to LYNKER CORPORATION for work described as: ADVANCEMENT OF THE NATIONAL WATER MODEL (NWM) NEXT GENERATION MODELING FRAMEWORK AND PROTOTYPE (NEXTGEN) Key points: 1. Contract awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract type is Time and Materials, which can pose cost control risks if not closely managed. 3. The award value of $5.7M is for a 2-year period, indicating a moderate annual spend. 4. The contractor, LYNKER CORPORATION, is a new awardee for this specific service category. 5. The contract falls under Engineering Services, a broad category with varying cost benchmarks. 6. The base contract value is $7.79M, with this delivery order representing a portion of potential total value.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract's Time and Materials (T&M) pricing structure warrants close monitoring to ensure value for money. While the total award value is $5.7M over two years, the lack of a fixed ceiling on T&M contracts can lead to cost overruns if not managed diligently. Benchmarking against similar NOAA or other agency contracts for advanced modeling frameworks would provide a clearer picture of cost-effectiveness. Without specific performance metrics or detailed cost breakdowns, assessing the true value proposition is challenging.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple bidders were likely considered. The presence of three bidders suggests a reasonable level of competition for this specialized service. A competitive process generally helps in achieving fair market prices and encourages contractors to offer their best value.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from a competitive process that aims to secure the most advantageous terms and pricing for the government.

Public Impact

This contract supports the advancement of the National Water Model (NWM) Next Generation Modeling Framework and Prototype. The services delivered are critical for improving hydrological forecasting and water resource management. The project is expected to enhance the accuracy and capabilities of water-related predictions, benefiting various stakeholders. The geographic impact is national, as the NWM serves the entire United States.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials contract type introduces potential for cost escalation if not tightly managed.
Limited public information on specific performance metrics makes value assessment difficult.
The contractor is a new awardee for this specific service, raising questions about their prior experience in this niche.
The base contract value is higher than this delivery order, suggesting potential for future, larger awards that need scrutiny.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a robust selection process.
The contract aims to improve a critical national infrastructure component (water modeling).
The duration of the contract allows for sustained development and refinement of the modeling framework.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Engineering Services sector, specifically related to environmental and hydrological modeling. The market for such specialized services is driven by government needs for scientific research, data analysis, and advanced simulation capabilities. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve looking at other federal contracts for climate modeling, weather forecasting systems, and environmental data analysis platforms, which often involve significant investment due to their complexity and national importance.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication that this contract included small business set-asides, nor is there information on subcontracting plans for small businesses. The focus appears to be on securing specialized engineering expertise, and the impact on the small business ecosystem is likely minimal unless LYNKER CORPORATION actively engages small businesses in its subcontracting efforts.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) contracting officers and program managers. Accountability measures would be tied to the delivery of milestones and performance standards outlined in the contract. Transparency is facilitated through contract award databases, though detailed performance reports are often internal. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

National Water Model
NOAA Research and Development Programs
Hydrological Services
Environmental Modeling Contracts

Risk Flags

Time and Materials pricing structure requires vigilant oversight to control costs.
Limited public data on contractor's specific experience with similar advanced modeling systems.
Potential for scope creep in T&M contracts if not managed tightly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Commerce awarded $5.7 million to LYNKER CORPORATION. ADVANCEMENT OF THE NATIONAL WATER MODEL (NWM) NEXT GENERATION MODELING FRAMEWORK AND PROTOTYPE (NEXTGEN)

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is LYNKER CORPORATION.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Commerce (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $5.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2022-10-01. End: 2024-09-30.

What is LYNKER CORPORATION's track record with similar advanced modeling framework contracts, particularly for hydrological systems?

Information on LYNKER CORPORATION's specific track record with advanced modeling frameworks, especially for hydrological systems, is not readily available in the provided data. As a new awardee for this particular service, further due diligence would be required to assess their past performance on comparable projects. Reviewing their contract history with federal agencies, client testimonials, and project portfolios would be essential to gauge their expertise and reliability in developing and prototyping complex modeling systems like the NWM Next Generation.

How does the Time and Materials pricing structure compare to fixed-price or cost-plus contracts for similar engineering services, and what are the associated risks?

Time and Materials (T&M) contracts offer flexibility but carry inherent risks of cost escalation compared to fixed-price or cost-plus-award-fee contracts. In a T&M arrangement, the government pays for the actual labor hours and material costs incurred by the contractor, plus a fixed fee or profit. This can lead to higher overall costs if project scope creeps or if labor hours are not efficiently managed. Fixed-price contracts provide cost certainty but may disincentivize innovation or lead to contractors cutting corners. Cost-plus contracts aim to balance cost control with performance incentives, but require robust oversight. For complex, evolving projects like the NWM Next Generation, T&M can be suitable if stringent oversight and clear task orders are in place to manage expenditures effectively.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and how will they be measured to ensure the advancement of the NWM Next Generation Modeling Framework?

The provided data does not specify the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract. Typically, for a contract focused on developing a modeling framework, KPIs would include metrics related to the accuracy and reliability of the prototype model, the successful integration of new features, adherence to development timelines, and the efficiency of computational performance. NOAA's program managers would be responsible for defining and monitoring these KPIs, likely through regular progress reports, technical reviews, and potentially independent testing of the developed framework. The effectiveness of the contract hinges on clearly defined and measurable performance standards.

What is the historical spending trend for the National Water Model (NWM) program, and how does this $5.7M delivery order fit into the overall budget?

Historical spending data for the National Water Model (NWM) program is not provided in this dataset. However, the 'br' field indicates a base contract value of $7,794,000, suggesting that this $5.7M delivery order represents a significant portion, but not the entirety, of the potential contract value. To understand the trend, one would need to examine prior contracts awarded for NWM development and maintenance, as well as NOAA's overall budget allocations for hydrological research and forecasting. This delivery order likely funds a specific phase or set of enhancements within the broader NWM lifecycle.

What are the potential risks associated with the 'DELIVERY ORDER' award type, and how are they mitigated?

A 'Delivery Order' is typically issued under an existing indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract or a similar multiple-award contract. The primary risk associated with a delivery order, especially when issued under a Time and Materials (T&M) pricing structure, is the potential for cost overruns if the scope of work is not well-defined or if labor hours are not efficiently utilized. Mitigation strategies include robust task order management, clear statement of work (SOW) for each delivery order, strict adherence to labor hour ceilings, regular progress reviews, and strong oversight by the contracting officer's representative (COR). The base contract value of $7.79M suggests this is one of potentially multiple delivery orders.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Engineering Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 1305M322RNWWY0020

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 5485 CONESTOGA CT STE 220, BOULDER, CO, 80301

Business Categories: Category Business, HUBZone Firm, Limited Liability Corporation, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $7,326,342

Exercised Options: $7,326,342

Current Obligation: $5,689,787

Actual Outlays: $3,599,750

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 1305M420DNWWA0063

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline